The cold is one of the problems that elephants have to suffer from. These animals are just some of the main attractions in India, but they are also the most abused animals here. You might think that because of their huge frame, they wouldn’t have problems in the cold. The villagers think otherwise.

Elephants are considered as one of the most loveable wildlife animals which is why so many people admire them. They are very intelligent animals but they can also be very emotional too, just like humans. Elephants also have a sense of sight, smell, sound, and touch. This means that they can also feel freezing temperatures. Knowing that they are also affected by climate change, it’s really heartbreaking.

This is the reason why the local women in India did something to help these poor animals when they were expecting a sub-zero temperature. They received a warning of temperatures dropping close to freezing point, so these women knew that they had to act and help these animals before it’s too late. Photographs of the elephants sporting colorful woolen jumpers that are knitted by the villagers are circulating the internet!

The 2017 report of The Independent shared that these super-sized jumpers were knitted to help protect the animals from dangerous temperatures. These women are from the village near the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center located in the Northern City of Mathura. They began producing these colorful, pajama-inspired jumpers after they learned that at night time, the temperatures would approach sub-zero. These jumpers would be able to cover their legs, back, and neck and fully protect them from the cold.

Kartick Satyanarayana, the founder of the center explained that it is extremely important to protect these formerly abused elephants from the cold. During her interview with Times of India, she said:

“It is important to keep our elephants protected from the bitter cold during this extreme winter, as they are weak and vulnerable having suffered so much abuse making them susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia.”

The cold can also aggravate the elephant’s arthritis which is one of the most common health issues that these rescued animals experience. The center is currently housing 20 elephants and most of them were rescued from illegal captivity, from the trafficking mafia, and some were saved from exploitation for street begging and circuses. These elephants were abused and victims of cruelty.

Global warming is not only affecting us humans, but also the animals. Scientists believe that this is going to be one of the biggest reasons for the extinction of different animal species within this century. Climate change is happening quickly and many of our land and aquatic creatures who are living in these areas are now affected by this, and this includes the elephants in India.

Even though this report happened 2 years ago, a lot of people are still sharing this amazing story online, especially on Facebook and Twitter. This only shows us that if the villagers can do this to these giant elephants, we can also do the same to help other animals. Aside from the elephants, animals that we find in the street should be loved and protected by us humans. A little act of kindness can go a long way and greatly impact our environment in the long run.